Dr. Mark Carlson is a seasoned disabilities and nonprofit executive with over 25 years of experience. He specializes in developing impactful programs, fostering organizational growth, and ensuring operational excellence. Mark has a strong background in strategic management, financial planning, and community outreach. As President/CEO of The Children’s Center for Communication – Beverly School for the Deaf, he revitalized the institution, significantly increasing revenue and expanding services, including the creation of an outpatient clinic and a global disabilities institute. Mark is dedicated to advancing access, equity, and community belonging for people with disabilities.
In addition to a Bachelor of Arts Degree in psychology, he holds a Master of Arts Degree in educational administration from Seton Hall University, a Master’s Degree in business administration from Brandeis University, and a Doctorate Degree in higher education leadership from Endicott College. Mark has authored numerous journal articles and publications on topics ranging from deafness and autism to nonprofit management. He has spent his career serving on national committees, chambers of commerce, and nonprofit boards—most recently as board chair of Bridgton Academy, a boarding school for young men. His additional research interests include how nonprofit boards fund capital growth and expansion.
Growing up in New England, Mark also gained experience as a cook, special education teacher, and worker on his parents’ Christmas tree farm in Maine. He is ready to drive the Eggleston snowplow truck if needed. An avid long-distance runner, he looks forward to the annual OK5K and helping to raise awareness of Eggleston programs and services. Recently empty nesters, Mark, his wife, and their two Golden Retrievers are relocating to the Hampton Roads area and look forward to supporting Boston sports teams remotely.
Mark’s Favorite Quote:
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. – Benjamin Franklin
Helene Russell is the Chief People Officer of Eggleston and the First Black Female to hold a Chief Executive Position. As a Norfolk native, her daily responsibilities include advising on HR issues for other C-level Executives, driving the development of all programs related to “people” issues, and crafting the organization’s values to maximize employee potential.
As Chief People Officer, Helene brings a wealth of diverse HR Leadership experience to Eggleston. Helene has spent 30 years as part of the Eggleston team, where she acquired a strong foundation in both Human Resources and Leadership. Helene has extensive knowledge in supporting many employees, focusing on Person-Centered Achievement and Advancement. Having served as the top HR Executive, Helene is known for her ability to think strategically, act pragmatically, and obtain outstanding results by adopting a project-driven structure and fostering a collaborative and empowering culture that reaches across silos. As a graduate of Maury High School, Helene has demonstrated her abilities through her commitment to continuous hard work, education, training, Non-Profit Management, and Leadership, beginning her career as a dietary supervisor working with seniors. Helene attended the University of Maryland for her Employment Specialist Certification and Old Dominion University for her HR Certification. Helene has received various Employee Appreciation Awards, including Employee of the Year!
Helene is married to her high school sweetheart, Michael and they have one daughter-Shenita. Helene spends her free time uplifting her family, friends, and anyone in need.
Tasha is the Chief Operating Officer at Eggleston. A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Tasha stepped out on faith to obtain Higher Education and relocated to Hampton Roads to attend Norfolk State University. She started her career at Eggleston as a Direct Support Professional in Day Services. Her responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day functions of all business operations and ensuring all employees’ and individuals’ safety and security.
Tasha is an organizational leader who deploys strategic alignment and drives innovation. Tasha is a well-versed professional who inspires and motivates others to facilitate a culture of belonging and excellence. Tasha is highly active in her community throughout Hampton Roads. She loves to focus on activities that mentor teens and young adults, participate in community service efforts, and raise awareness of various causes. She lives by the West African term “Sankofa,” which teaches us that we should reach back and gather the best of what our past has to teach us to achieve our full potential as we move forward. As a first-generation college graduate, she learned at a young age that life’s experiences and interactions set the tone for future leadership perceptions, and she finds joy in mentoring those up next.
Tasha is an accomplished individual with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Education, focused explicitly on School Counseling from Norfolk State University. In addition to this, she is an esteemed member of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, INC., the Virginia Beach Alumnae Chapter. Tasha currently works as a Cheer Coach in the Virginia Beach Public Schools. Her achievements have not gone unnoticed; she was awarded the Inside Business Top 40 under 40 Hampton Roads in 2018.
Amy Alston is the Chief Financial Officer of Eggleston. A native of Nottoway County, Virginia, Amy started her career as an Assistant Bank Examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Virginia. After serving as an auditor at various companies for several years, Amy changed direction and began working in financial accounting. Her illustrious career includes working for the federal government, state government, two fortune 500 companies, and private industry. Prior to working for Eggleston, Amy enjoyed her time as the Controller for Bay Crawlspace Solutions.
At Eggleston, Amy was initially hired as the Vice President of Accounting before being quickly promoted to Chief Financial Officer. Her responsibilities include directing all of Eggleston’s financial activities to fund operations and maximize investments. She is also responsible for creating and managing budgets, forecasts, and internal financial plans and processes. Amy’s invaluable experience makes her uniquely qualified to focus on the efficiency and accuracy of accounting operations, as well as the effectiveness of the internal controls at Eggleston. She leads a team of highly accomplished accountants and accounting specialists.
Amy is a Certified Public Accountant and a first-generation college graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is also the proud parent of two wonderful children and two rambunctious fur babies. Amy attends church weekly; her faith is the basis of everything she does. In her spare time, she enjoys singing and directing choirs, walking the beach, and laughing heartily in the company of her family and friends.
Zakiya Hoyett is the Chief Ethics Officer. In this role she ensures Eggleston’s compliance with ethical and regulatory standards. Her primary function is to reduce organizational risk for misconduct and noncompliance by implementing controls that protect the organization and its brand. Zakiya joined the Eggleston team as Senior Director of Compliance with a primary focus on tracking the organization’s compliance to federal and state laws and assessing the effectiveness of internal policies and procedures in managing Eggleston’s risk exposure. She subsequently served as the Vice President of the newly established Culture and Compliance division which added workplace culture to her purview. With the help of her team and support of leadership, she aspires to elevate Eggleston’s workplace culture to one that prioritizes the well-being of its employees, offers support at all levels within the organization, and has policies in place that encourage respect, trust, empathy, and inclusion, thereby embodying Eggleston’s vision of “a community that values and engages the abilities of all persons and endeavors to improve their quality of life.”
Zakiya’s unconventional career path has been guided by a simple, overarching vision for her life: To make the world a better place to live. With years of experience in academia, Zakiya is a perpetual student that aspires to better understand the intersectionality of structural racism, alleviate social disparities, and promote equity through culturally responsive research and advocacy. As an academic she was dedicated to bridging the gap between the scientific community and the general population by empowering historically minoritized groups, specifically Black women, with formal and informal education. She brings this same passion to her role at Eggleston with a radical focus on individuals with disabilities.
Zakiya’s educational background includes a master’s degree in public health and a doctoral degree in environmental science from Florida A&M University. Her baccalaureate degree is from Norfolk State University in chemistry. True to her calling of education and empowerment, Zakiya has adjunct faculty appointments at various institutions including Chamberlain University, Western Michigan University and Virginia Union University virtually facilitating courses in cultural competence, global and public health, environmental health science, and chemistry. Additionally, she is a devoted member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®, and eagerly serves her community whenever possible.